It is imperative at times, to put things into appropriate context, so before delving into the film, “Black Like Me,”please understand that this movie is based on a book written by journalist John Howard Griffin and published back in 1961. Furthermore, this film later followed, having been released in 1964 and directed by Carl Lerner and all that being said, because it is historical if dated. My disclaimer comes at the sensitivity of being aware of the issues of racism in today’s modern times, to being emotionally and mentally aware of the current historical events surrounding American’s and race, and to share that my opinions are that of a story that was offered to the public over fifty years ago. The plot is based on a true story, there was once a white male reporter who wondered what the racial separations and divisions, specifically in the South, during the Civil Rights movement, were truly like as a an African American at the time. This reporter, John Howard Griffin, decided to embark on a six week trip to the deep South, with his skin painted black, so he could truly immerse himself into the racial inequalities and racial disadvantages. Unfortunately, in the film, James Whitmore does not look anything other than ridiculous, having “painted his skin” black. Furthermore, the story does little to show us as the audience, what this may “feel” like in the deep South, per se. However, I do applaud the notion that, during this time period, over fifty years ago, there was the idea to bring racial inequality to light and although, this may not have been the most effective way to go about it, I can appreciate the well intended (I use that loosely) effort. What I came up with, after watching “Black Like Me,”is a deplorable problem that the United States of America faces, in that so long as we cannot understand that we are all equal and cannot live communally and treat one another as such, we are not better off than we were fifty years ago or one hundred years ago. THAT is TRULY the sickening tragedy. “Black Like Me”will urge you to think, to question your own moral integrity, is not that what TRULY makes movies such a joy to behold?

Marilyn Monroe would have been 88 years old today. In honor of her birthday, check out the amazing documentary ‘The Legend of Marilyn Monroe‘ (1966) by clicking on any of these stunning photos.

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This is a remarkable documentary about the life and career of 1950s sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, narrated by director John Huston (who worked with her on ‘The Misfits’). Included are interviews with friends, cast and crew who worked with her and others who knew her, clips from her films and some scenes that were cut from her earliest movies and not seen for many years.

Baby photographer Ronnie Jackson, on death row in San Quentin, tells reporters how he got there: taking care of his private-eye neighbor’s office, Ronnie is asked by the irresistible Baroness Montay to find the missing Baron.

There follow confusing but sinister doings in a gloomy mansion and a private sanatorium, with every plot twist a parody of thriller cliches. What are the villains really after? Can Ronnie beat a framed murder rap?

On August 5th 1962, Marilyn Monroe passed away in her Brentwood home in Los Angeles. She was only 36 years old. The coroners office recorded her death as “barbiturate poisoning” from a probable suicide. However many theories, including murder, have circulated about the circumstances surrounding her death and the timeline after her body was found. CIA, Mafia, the Kennedy’s, and more are just some of the conspiracy theories people love to entertain.

In honor of her iconic career, you can stream the amazing documentary ‘The Legend of Marilyn Monroe‘ (1966) by clicking on any of these stunning photos.

This is a remarkable documentary about the life and career of 1950s sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, narrated by director John Huston (who worked with her on ‘The Misfits’). Included are interviews with friends, cast and crew who worked with her and others who knew her, clips from her films and some scenes that were cut from her earliest movies and not seen for many years.

“Suddenly“: The tranquility of a small town is marred only by sheriff Tod Shaw’s unsuccessful courtship of widow Ellen Benson, a pacifist who can’t abide guns and those who use them. But violence descends on Ellen’s household willy-nilly when the U.S. President passes through town… and slightly psycho hired assassin John Baron finds the Benson home ideal for an ambush.

“The Stranger“: Wilson of the War Crimes Commission is seeking Franz Kindler, mastermind of the Holocaust, who has effectively erased his identity. Wilson releases Kindler’s former comrade Meinike and follows him to Harper, Connecticut, where he is killed before he can identify Kindler. Now Wilson’s only clue is Kindler’s fascination with antique clocks; but though Kindler seems secure in his new identity, he feels his past closing in.

“Film Noir For Dummies“: is a Detective series that spoofs the1940s gumshoe movies like The Maltese Falcon using Storefront Dummies as actors. There are lots of laughs and plenty of action/adventure as Peter Mache, Private Detective apes his hero Humphrey Bogart and takes on The Case of the Plaster Parrot. After many exciting twists and turns in the plot Peter Mache thwarts his nemesis, The Big Man, and survives an amazing airplane chase to eventually win out, retrieve a stolen diamond the size of an ostrich egg and get the girl. The series has high-production values in addition to an original specially commissioned score which features the tenor saxophone playing of the award-winning musician Gene Cipriano

“Of Human Bondage“: Philip Carey is a medical student of limited means who is particularly self-conscious about his physical deformity, a club foot. When a fellow student wants to try and impress a waitress in a local restaurant, Philip goes along to show him how to make small talk with someone you’re attracted to. The woman in question is Mildred Rogers, an attractive girl who gets the attention of many customers, particularly the wealthy Emil Miller. Philip takes an immediate liking to her and asks her out. It soon becomes obvious to everyone except Philip that Mildred is manipulative and using him only insofar as he spends money on her and treats her nicely. She refuses his proposal of marriage saying she is to marry someone else but many months later is back on his doorstep, pregnant and without a place to live. This will not be the last time that she seeks his help only to abandon him when a better proposition comes along. Throughout it all, Philip remains steadfast, honest and caring even though it is all to his detriment

“A Farewell to Arms“: A tale of the love between ambulance driver Lt. Henry and Nurse Catherine Barkley during World War I. The action takes place in Italy and the two fall in love during the war and will stop at nothing to be together. The film also analyses Lt. Henry’s feelings on war and the purpose of fighting.

“Bride of the Gorilla“: The owner of a plantation in the jungle marries a beautiful woman. Shortly afterward, he is plagued by a strange voodoo curse which transforms him into a gorilla.

“Dementia 13“: Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, John Haloran has a fatal heart attack, but his wife Louise won’t get any of the inheritance when Lady Haloran dies if John is dead. Louise forges a letter from John to convince the rest of his family he’s been called to New York on important business, and goes to his Irish ancestral home, Castle Haloran, to meet the family and look for a way to ensure a cut of the loot. Seven years earlier John’s sister Kathleen was drowned in the pond, and the Halorans enact a morbid ritual in remembrance. Secrets shroud the sister’s demise, and soon the family and guests begin experiencing an attrition problem.

“The Red House“: An old man and his sister are concealing a terrible secret from their adopted teen daughter, concerning a hidden abandon farmhouse, located deep in the woods.

“Carnival of Souls“: Mary Henry is enjoying the day by riding around in a car with two friends. When challenged to a drag, the women accept, but are forced off of a bridge. It appears that all are drowned, until Mary, quite some time later, amazingly emerges from the river. After recovering, Mary accepts a job in a new town as a church organist, only to be dogged by a mysterious phantom figure that seems to reside in an old run-down pavilion. It is here that Mary must confront the personal demons of her spiritual insouciance.

“Stage Door Canteen“: “Dakota,” a young soldier on a pass in New York City, visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theatre and films appear and host a recreational center for servicemen during the war. Dakota meets a pretty young hostess, Eileen, and they enjoy the many entertainers and a growing romance.

“The Death Kiss“: While filming the closing scene of “The Death Kiss”, leading man Myles Brent is actually killed. Having played around with, or been married to, most of the women connected with the movie studio, there are lots of suspects. When leading lady Marcia Lane is arrested for the killing, her suiter, a studio writer, starts to investigate the killing in order to prove her innocence.

“The Fatal Hour“: When Captain Street’s best friend Dan O’Grady is murdered, Street enlists the help of Chinese detective James Lee Wong. Mr. Wong uncovers a smuggling ring on the waterfront of San Francisco and unmasks the killer, though not until several more murders occur.

“My Dear Secretary“: Owen Waterbury, bestselling novelist, recruits aspiring writer Stephanie ‘Steve’ Gaylord as his latest of many secretaries. The stars in her eyes fade when she finds she is to work in his apartment, with a constant parade of eccentric visitors and slapstick provided by klutzy roommate Ronnie. Moreover, Waterbury’s idea of work looks a lot like play, his interest less in books than in blondes. She leaves; to get her back, he swallows his playboy principles and marries her. Can the leopard change his spots? Can Stephanie turn the tables?

“Murders with Pictures“: Suspected crime boss Nate Girard beats a murder rap, and newspaper photog Kent Murdock is on the story. Girard and lawyer Redfield throw a party for the news men where Murdock romances a mystery woman who confronted Girard in front of him, but Murdock’s fiancée Hester shows up.

“McLintock!“: Cattle baron George Washington McLintock fights his wife, his daughter, and political land-grabbers, finally “taming” them all in this Western Comedy with Taming of the Shrew overtones.

The cast of “The Princess Bride” recently reunited after 25 years at the New York Film Festival, and we just had to share this photo from the big event. The reunion was in conjunction with the Blu-Ray release of the film.

At the reunion, Carry Elwes announced that she hadn’t seen the movie in 25 years, despite its frequent television appearances. ”The Princess Bride” opened in theaters on Sept. 25, 1987, and went on to become an iconic film that we have all grown to love.

Marilyn Monroe would have been 86 years old today. In honor of her birthday, check out the classic documentary ‘The Legend of Marilyn Monroe‘ (1966) by clicking on any of these stunning photos.

This is a remarkable documentary about the life and career of 1950s sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, narrated by director John Huston (who worked with her on ‘The Misfits’). Included are interviews with friends, cast and crew who worked with her and others who knew her, clips from her films and some scenes that were cut from her earliest movies and not seen for many years.

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on this day in 1889, in London, England.

In celebration, we bring you a clip from Chaplin’s first talking picture, ‘The Great Dictator’. This is where Chaplin drops out of his comedic character to address the audience directly denouncing dictatorship, greed, hate, and intolerance, in favor of liberty and human brotherhood. This truly is one of the most unforgettable and moving speeches in all of movie history.

‘The Great Dictator’ (1940), was an act of defiance against Nazism. It was filmed and released in the U.S. one year before entering into World War II. The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor.

You can watch several more Charlie Chaplin films right here on BIGSTAR Movies! Click any one of the images below to start streaming now!